'Acutely distressing'

Dame Laura described the House of Commons as a "stark reminder of how bad things used to be" and said there was a culture of "deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence".

In her report, she detailed alleged sexual harassment by MPs, saying women reported being abused in "vulgar, gender-related terms".

There were reports of "inappropriate touching", including men "trying to kiss them, grabbing their arms or bottoms or stroking their breasts or bottoms".

Staff reported men putting their arms around women's shoulders or waists or "pulling them into corners for close personal contact".

There were "frequent comments" about women's appearance and suggestions that they should wear "sexier clothing or more make-up". "Derogatory or lewd comments about women's anatomies" were made, the report said.

Staff reported being told off for using the "wrong" toilet or being being told to "get out of the lift now" because MPs wanted to use it.

The effect of the alleged behaviour on some staff had been "acutely distressing, long-lasting and, in some cases, devastating".

One staff member told the review: "I felt physically sick….I would find myself crying in the toilets, I wasn't able to eat or sleep properly."

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According to the report, other allegations of behaviour reported by members of staff included:

being shouted at or belittled

people swearing at them face to face or over the phone

others being "routinely unpleasant, overbearing or confrontational" to them

being constantly criticised or having derogatory remarks made about their work

being told they are useless and humiliating them in front of others

taunting, mocking or mimicking them

While some managers had dealt effectively with complaints from women, Dame Laura said the majority received "evasive responses, in which either their reports were questioned... or belittled".

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Dame Laura said Mr Bercow and other people in positions of leadership, such as the clerk of the House of Commons and the director general of the House of Commons, should read the report "very carefully".